Auto top washing machine



1934- o. M. KIGGINS AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE Filed June 9. 19 30 6 Sheets-Sheet l I Ivar/775v.-

Jan. 9, 1934. I O M. KIGGINS 1,942,653

AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/02 hy/as Jan. 9, 1934. Q Ns 1,942,653

AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ..&

1934- o. M. KIGGINS AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Qheei 4 Filed June 9, 1930 0. M. KlGGlNS Jan. 9, 1934.

AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE Fi led June 9, 1930 SSheets-Sheet 5 f Mvm Ml. n k a M r b 0 Jan. 9, 1934. O. M. KlGGlNS AUTO TOP WASHING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 9, 1934 PATENT OFFICE AUTO: TOP WASHING! MACHINE Olin M. Kiggins, Portland, Orcg. Application June 9, 1930. Serial No. 459,995 5 Claims. (i. 15-21) My invention-relates to machines for washing the tops of motor vehicles.

In commercial washing plants for motor vehicles, it is the present practice to move the vehicle along a runway and to wash all the parts, as the top, sides, and wheels, progressively, by workmen stationed at intervals along its course, and who each have their particular duty, the- Washing of certain parts. By this method, all

parts of the vehicle are washed rapidly and emciently.

However, the washing of the vehicle top by this method has been unsatisfactory because it is relatively inaccessible and the workman is, for this reason, inclined to slight the job. Further, be-

cause the grain of the top fabric generally runs longitudinally of the vehicle, it is very dimcult to obtain a satisfactory washing job by manual labor,

in which the washing is done across the grain.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for automatically washing the top of a mohelp, thereby creating a savings in labor costs and providing a more satisfactory job than possible by hand washing.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a machine also adapted to wipe the top of the vehicle dry after it has been washed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a machine provided with means adapted to automatically turn on the water or other fluid with which the vehicle is washed, as the forward end of the vehicle passes under the machine and to simultaneously actuate a revolving brush brought into contact with the vehicle top, and adapted, when the vehicle has passed from under the machine, to automatically shut oil the water and stop the brush from rotating.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a machine adapted to be raised by manual means out of operative position without actuating thewashing elements.

These and other incidental features of .myinvention, the details of construction, and the mode,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of mymachine and illustrates a motor vehicle passing thereunder and in position to be worked upon;

Fig. 2 shows a view taken looking in the direction or the arrows 2 in Fig. 1, and illustrates the detail of the snubber element for restraining the downward movement of the operating elements of my machine;

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of my machine and illustrates further details of construction;

Fig. .4 shows a perspective view of my machine;

Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of my machine and illustrates the motor vehicle being pulled thereunder by means of a traveling chain;

Fig. 6 shows a section taken on the line 6-6 of tFig. l and illustrates further details of construcion;

Fig. 7 shows a section taken on the lines '7----'! of Fig. 6 and illustrates the details of the rotary brush and wiping means;

Fig. 8 shows a detail oi. the wiping means;

Fig. 9 shows a modification oi. my machine adapted to be entirely supported from the ceiling and adapted for vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle;

Fig. 10 shows a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 shows a top plan view of this modification of my machine; and

Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically, a further modification of my machine adapted for being moved in an inclined plane.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 8, my machine for washing the tops of motor vehicles comprises a skeleton frame a adapted to have'a motor vehicle 17 pass thereunder, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, and 5.

A supplementary, inclined frame 0 is connected at one end to the rear cross member a by a universal joint d, permitting a pivotal movement of the frame in all directions. For the reason that when my invention is arranged for washing the tops of motor vehicles traveling on a circular track, the deflection of such travel from a straight line must be accommodated. The other end of the supplementary frame 0 is supported by cables passing over pulleys g, g, and connected to counter weights h, slidably mounted on the forward standards a3 of the frame a. Removable segments h' are provided on the counter weights h, to permit the latter to be adjusted relatively to the weight' of the supplementary frame 0. By these means, the supplementary frame 0 is counter weighted so as to be easily lifted by the top of a motor vehicle passing thereunder and to bear with equal iorc'e on-each vehicle, whereby a uniform and thorough washing job will be performed on each vehicle, as hereinafter further described.

Other cables 7', are connected to the corners of the forward end of the frame 0 and passed upwardly over pulleys is, supported on the cross member a2 and joined at their ends at the center of the frame to form a single cable 7', which passes over pulleys k, 102, supported on the rear cross member a, and the upper end of one of the rear standards a4 of the frame a respectively, from where the cable 9" is connected to a winch element Z carried on the said standard a4'in convenient reach from the floor. Adjustable stops 7'2 are provided on the cables 1' to limit the downward movement of the frame 0. By these means, the frame 0 may be adjusted to any given height, or lifted into inoperative position, as may be desirable.

In addition to these means, a suitable snubbing element m, carried by the frame a is connected to the supplementary frame 4:; at m to prevent the latter from falling too rapidly after a vehicle has passed from under it.

A rotary brush 2 is transversely journaled on the forward end of the frame 0. The brush 2 is driven by an electric motor 3, see Figs. 3 and 6, also carried by the frame 0, by means of a belt 4 and pulley 4a. The pulley 4a is carried on a stub shaft 4b of a suitable transmission 4c, the driven shaft 5?) ofwhich is provided with a sprocket connected by a chain 5 with a sprocket 6 mounted on the end of the shaft 7 of the brush 2.

A switch 8 is provided in the circuit 9 of the motor 3, the operating arm 8a of which is normally held in open position by a cable section 12 connected to the upper transverse member a2 of the frame a, but when the frame 0 is lifted by a vehicle passing thereunder, the said cable section will become slack and a spring 10, connected to said lever, will then draw it downward, thus closing the switch and actuating the motor and the brush to operate on the top of the car.

Similarly, to spray water on the vehicle top ahead of the brush, a transverse, perforated spray pipe 14 is mounted on the frame 0, ahead of the brush 2, which is supplied with water through suitable couplings 15, connected to one of the side members 0' of the frame c, the frame c being preferably constructed of pipe sections and the other end of the side member 0 being connected to a source of water as at 16.

A valve 17 is provided in the coupling 15, the operating handle 17a of which is also engaged with the cable :1, and is normally held in closed position when the said cable is taut, but when the frame 0 is lifted by a vehicle passing thereunder and becomes slack, a spring 18 will pull the lever 17a downward and open the valve and permit water to be sprayed onto the topof the car through the said perforated spray pipe 14.

Further, when the frame 0 is lifted by the winch element Z so as to be out of contact with the top of a vehicle, as for example when an open vehicle is passed thereunder, the spray pipe 14 is shut off, since the cable 12 will become slack, but the motor 3 and brush 2 will be permitted to continue in operation, as the cable a will remain taut.

In order that the top of the vehicle may be quickly wiped dry, a squeegee element 20, carried by brackets 21, is located in the rear of the brush and positioned to bear on he Vehicle top b, thus wiping it dry.

In order that the top of the vehicle will not be injured when it comes into contact with the supplementary frame 0, regardless of its height, I have provided spaced, parallel bars 22 preforably three in number, secured to the rearward end of the frame 0 on a crossmember c2 which are inclined downwardly, and supported from the forward end by bolt members 23. The two outer bars are provided with a series of rollers 24, and the' center bar is provided with a series of similar rollers 24b, arranged in staggered relation to the rollers 24 so that the forward end of the top of the vehicle will ride against a continuous anti-friction surface in lifting the frame.

In the operation of my machine, a vehicle is preferably drawn under the frame a by a traveling chain, as illustrated at p in Fig. 5, or by any other means that may be desirable.

As the vehicle progresses under the frame a, the front end of the top comes into contact with the rollers 24, 24b, and the supplementary frame c is lifted until the brush 2 comes into contact with the vehicle top, when the motor 3, and there-.- with the brush 2, and spray from the spray pipe 14 will be actuated, as before described, to wash if the top of the car as it passes slowly under the brush, illustrated in Fig. 7. Then the squeegee element 20 will wipe the top of the car dry and prevent streaks or stains from remaining. The

squeegee element 20 is adapted to limited verti- 'cal movement in a slot 21a in the bracket 21, so

that as the brush 2 passes off the rear end of the top and falls slightly, the squeegee element may adjust itself to such change of position.

Finally, as the squeegee element 20 passes off the end of the vehicle, the frame 0 will move downward again, stopping the motor and spray, and my machine is then set for the next car, the downward movement of the frame 0 being restrained by the snubbing elements m.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, I will describe a modification of my machine adapted to be supported from thereof of the washing room and to be moved vertically. J

This modification comprises a supporting bracket 30, bolted to the roof in a desirable location, as over the runway, in which is slidably and rotatably journaled a shaft 31 to the lower end of which a frame 32 carrying the operative elements of this modification, is hingedly secured, as at 31a, for movement on a horizontal, transverse axis.

The shaft 31 or the frame 32 is supported by a cable 33 passing over pulleys 34, 34a, and connected at its other end to counter weights 35,

whereby the frame 32 may be easily lifted by the forward travel of the top of the vehicle passing thereunder.

Furthermore, the frame 32 is vertically adjustable by means of a cable 36 connected to the cable 33 by a clamp 37, which is passed over a pulley 35a and secured at its other end to a winch 38 located on a suitable upright 38c within convenient reach from the floor.

The frame- 32 is provided with counter weights 39 adjacent its rearward end, by which thesaid frame is balanced to remain normally horizontal. Inclined arms 40 are provided carrying a series of rollers 41, similar to those before described, adapted to guide the frame and brush relatively to the vehicle top as it is lifted and to prevent the same from being injured as it comes into contact with the frame 32.

The end of the frame 32 is provided with a rotary brush 42 journaled on a shaft 43 and driven by means of a chain and belt 44, 44a, respectively, from an electric motor 45. A switch 46 is provided in the electric circuit 45a of the motor 45, the operating lever 46a of which is held in closed position when the frame is in its lowermost position, by means of a cable section 48 connecting it with the bracket 30, but when the frame is raised by a vehicle passing under it, the cable section becomes slack and a spring 50 pulls the lever 46a downward to close the switch and actuate the motor. Since the motor 45 is for con- Venience located at one side the frame, an adjustable counter weight 59 is provided on the other side, in order to hold it in a normally level position.

A perforated, transversely arranged spray pipe 51 is provided ahead of the brush, which is connected through couplings 51a with the source of the water 51b, or other washing fluid that may be used. A valve 53 is provided in the said coupling, the operating handle 53a of which is engaged in a chain section 54, connected between the bracket 30 and the coupling 51a. The end of the handle is also connected by a cable section 57 passed over a pulley 58, and connected with the cable 35. By this construction, when the cable and chain are taut, the lever will hold the valve in closed position, but when the frame is lifted, it will become slack and a spring 531) will pull the lever downward opening the valve and causing the water to be sprayed on the top of the vehicle.

In Fig. 12, I have shown diagrammatically a further modification of my invention in which the supplementary frame 60 is supported on a carriage 61, adapted to be moved on an inclined track 62, by the top of the motor vehicle as it is moved thereunder. A counter weight 63 is connected to the carriage 61 by a cable 65 arranged over a pulley 66 secured at the upper end of the track. Another cable 6'7 is fastened to the carriage 61 and passed over pulleys 68, 69, and to a winch 70, by which the frame 60 is adjustable on the track or by which it may be moved to inoperative position.

The frame 60 is otherwise similar to the frame 32, shown in Fig. 9, and is provided with a rotary brush 71 and spray '72. The operative and control means provided for this modification are similar to those above described,and are therefore not shown.

In this modification, the upward movement of the frame 60 by the forward end of the top of the vehicle will be attained with somewhat less resistance. Also, in this form, the control means may be somewhat simplified. A hose 73 is connected with a'source of water at one end and at the other to the spray '72, through the pipe section constituting the frame side, as before described.

I claim: 7 g

1. In an automobile washing machine, the combination of a gravity counter balanced vertically movable frame normally in lower position, a contact member carried by said frame, a cleaning element carried by the frame, said contact member arranged at an oblique angle with the horizontal when said frame is in its lower position, whereby the movement of an automobile underthe said frame causes the top of the vehicle to abut with said contact member and lift the said frame into operative position.

, 2. A vehicle washing machine comprising a supporting member, a frame hingedlyconnected to said supporting member, a washing element carried by said frame, means carried by said frame adapted to have contact with the top of a vehicle passing under said frame, whereby to lift the frame into operative position.

3. A vehicle washing machine comprising a supporting member, a frame hingedly connected to said supporting member, a washing element 195 carried by said frame, means including a series of rollers carried by said frame adapted to have contact with the top of a vehicle passing under said frame, whereby to lift theframe into operative position;

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a pivotally mounted inclined frame suspended above an automobile runway, a brush rotatably mounted at one end 'of the frame crosswise of the runway, a motorsccured to the frame and adapted to rotate the brush, supporting means pivotally connected with the frame, and a guide secured to the under side of the frame and adapted to carry the brush on to the automobile top.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, a vertically movable frame supported above an automobile runway, a driven brush rotatably .mounted at one end of the frame crosswise of the runway, a guide secured to the under side of the frame and adapted to carry the brush on to 

